Collapsible rack



Sept. 29, 1942. F KRAMER 2,297,358

COLLAPSIBLE RACK 'Fi led Aug. 12, 1941 INVENTOR FERDINAND KRAMfR Patented Sept. 29, 1942 UNITED TATE iATEhl'i Fi l-CE COLLAPSIBLE RACK Ferdinand Kramer, Port Chester, N. Y.

Application AugustlZ, 1941, Serial No. 406,475 4 Claims. -(o1. 211-85) This invention relates to racks and more par ticularly to racks of the collapsible type for preferably supporting household utensils, such as plates, glasses and the like, which rack can be folded for the purpose of storing it when not in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rack of the above nature'which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to handle during use and for storing purpose.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rack of the collapsible type which has supporting legs and frame portions extending between said legs and being connectable to the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rack comprising parts articulated thereon which may be swung into a common plane, when it is desired to put the rack away in storage.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rack structure having three legs or standards, two of which being connected together through an intermediate part whereby said two legs are formed in U-fashion, the third standard being substantially L-shaped and linked to said intermediate part.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a rack having swingable frame portions or holding means which are adapted to hold articles, such as plates, as well as glasses.

Yet, another object of the present invention is to provide a rack of the above nature made of tubular elements, such as steel tubes, which contribute to a very rigid rack structure which can be easily moved from one place to another.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following disclosure thereof together with the attached drawing which illustrates certain forms of embodiments thereof.

These forms are shown for the purpose of i1- lustrating the invention since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various parts of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement or organization of the parts as herein shown and described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a rack made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view thereof.

glasses or the like therein.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown inFig. 1, parts being broken away.

Fig. 4 shows the rack in collapsed condition.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the holding means of said rack in a modified form.

Referring now particularly to the drawing, there is disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3 a rack structure generally designated by numeral Ill, which comprises standards or legs II, I2, which inturn are connected together by traverse or intermediate part Ila, and further comprises standard or leg [3 which is linked at It to said intermediate part Na and through rod I'3a at Ma to a transversely extending rod I5 located between the lower ends of standards or legs I-I, I2. Preferably within the limits given by standards or legs II, I2 and I3 when not in folded condition and spaced from each other, there are provided holding means I6; I? and I8 in the form of ring members 2! each of which being swingably attached to standards II, I2 by means of pinor bolt I9. The connection of the holding means It, 'i'I, I8 with standard I3 may be achieved by pin and hole engaging means 28. To this end, each of the holding means I6, I1, I8 has an extension or lug 22 which carries a downwardly directed pin 23 for engagement with an opening 24 provided in projections 25 fixed to standard or leg I3. It will thus be apparent, that each holding means IS, IT, or I8 may be lifted in the direction of arrow A so as to disengage pin 23 from opening 24 of each lug 22 so that ring 2I may pivot about I9 and be swung substantially into the plane of U-shaped standard arrangement II, I2, Ila.

As it can be seen from Fig. 2 each ring member 2I has two angle pieces 25, 21. One end of each angle piece is fastened at 28 to ring member 2I and carries a knob 29, preferably made of rubber, for a purpose herein later described, the other end of each angle piece being swivelled on bolt or pin I9. Lug 22 also carries a rubber knob 29a.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the rubber knobs 29, 29a serve the purpose to hold a plate 30 or similar household utensil in place on ring member 2I and prevent any slipping of the same from the rack III.

In Fig. 5, there is shown the ring member in modified form comprising a grooved or similarly shaped plate 3I with glass holder elements 32 attached to said plate, said holder elements being made of wire or similar material for receiving Otherwise function and purpose of plate 3| are similar to that disclosed with respect to ring member 2|.

As it will easily be realized from the above, rack IO may be carried from place to place by gripping the same at standard part |3b or at link connection [4. It is, of course, understood that the ends 33 of standards ll, l2 and I3 may be made rollable in any known manner.

In Fig. 4, rack I is shown in its folded condition, when not in use. In order to bring about this condition, holding means l6, l1, I8 are first uncoupled by disengaging pin 23 of each holding means from respective opening 24 of each lug 22 and then swung about pivot or bolt I9 into a position shown in Fig. 4, and finally standard l3 with its parts l3a, l3b may be swung about link.

connections [4a, l4.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the above embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the rack or like device illustrated and its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible rack comprising inverted U- shaped frame means, a standard including a substantially horizontal upper portion pivotally connected to the inverted U-shaped frame means to swing about a vertical axis, and holding means for articles, said holding means being pivotally connected at one end to said U-shaped frame means to swing about a horizontal axis and detachably engaging at another end thereof with said standard, whereby said holding means and said standard may be simultaneously fixed in operative position.

2. A collapsible rack comprising at least three members adapted for spaced arrangement, an element connecting two members together forming inverted U-shaped frame means, the remaining member being provided with a horizontal upper portion pivotally connected to said element to swing about a vertical axis, and holding means for supporting articles extending substantially within the space provided between said members, said holding means being pivotally connected to said two members, respectively and detachably engaging with said remaining member.

3. A rack of the character described comprising a frame work including three legs, one of said legs being provided with upper and lower substantially horizontal extensions, a member connecting the upper ends of the other two legs and a further member connecting the other two legs adjacent their lower ends, holding means for supporting articles positioned within said frame work, said extensions being each pivotally connected to said members and adapted to swing about a vertical axis, each holding means being pivotally connected to the other two legs and adapted to swing about a horizontal axis, and coupling means adapted to removably engage said holding means with said one leg.

4. A rack of the character described comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped frame including a transverse member and two legs, a substantially vertical element including two substantially horizontal extensions and one leg, said extensions being pivotally connected to said U-shaped frame and said transverse member, respectively, whereby said vertical element may swing about a vertical axis, and means horizontally pivoted to said U-shaped frame and engageable with said element to hold said means in position at said element and to lock said element in position with respect to said U-shaped frame, said means being adapted to support articles.

FERDINAND KRAMER. 

